Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Accessories – Mop wringers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-08
2001-08-28
Graham, Gary K. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Accessories
Mop wringers
C015S264000, C015S260000, C210S455000, C220S501000, C220S532000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279195
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
This invention is not related to any other pending application filed by me, but it is in the general field of mopping and thus is in the same very broad field as applications Ser. No. 09/290,360. Filed Apr. 12, 1999; Ser. No. 09/073,0i6, filed May 4, 1998; and Ser. No. 29/087,644, filed May 4, 1998 of which I am a co-inventor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the general field of mopping floors, decks, and the like;
This invention is more particularly in the field of mop buckets;
This invention is even more particularly in the field of mop buckets designed to relieve stress and fatigue and the danger of injury to the user;
This invention is most particularly in the fields above mentioned and in the field of a mop bucket utilizing ergonomic procedures and means to relieve the stress and strain of wringing out mops, dumping out dirty mopping fluids, filtering fluids and securing the bucket against slippage when being used.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Mop buckets are in wide use, since mopping is prevalent throughout the world. All mop buckets share the common characteristic that they consist of a tub for holding mopping fluids and preferably have an associated means by which the mop can be wrung out so as to rid the mop of dirty fluids periodically during mopping.
The mop bucket of this invention is completely different from the prior art. This invention is a mop bucket with unique wringing means actuated by foot in order to relieve the repetitive arm, hand and body motions of wringing heretofore employed. Also, prior to my present invention mop buckets were difficult to empty, again requiring excessive repetitive hand, arm and body motions. My new mop bucket thus becomes an ergonomically beneficial item as well as an item for conserving mopping fluids and employing safety measures for the user.
I do not know of any mop bucket with the unique features of this invention as claimed below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A mop is one of the most widely used of all implements. Going into a super market, one will see a clerk mopping a spill; Going onto a deck, one will see a mop being used; Staying in a hotel, one will see a mop; In the average home, one will see a mop; Mops literally pervade every aspect of civilized (and even uncivilized) life.
Along with mops there must be some source of water or other appropriate fluid to use with the mop. There must also be a means to clean the mop from time to time to keep the fluid fresh. Failure to do this does not result in effective mopping, since dirty fluid merely adds to the accumulation of dirt on the floor being mopped.
Most commonly, particularly in industrial mopping, a bucket will be used with the mop and some sort of wringer will be used to wring out the mop from time to time. The wringer is anything from a person's hands to hand operated mop squeezing devices The dirty fluid from the mopping will accumulates in the bucket and from time to time the person mopping will be required to dump the dirty fluid from the bucket into an appropriate sink or other drain arrangement. This is clumsy, requiring considerable strength and repetitive hand, arm, and body motion. Also, it requires frequent replenishing of the fluid supply.
Another problem is that the bucket is frequently mounted on wheels. During the wringing of the mop the bucket can roll about causing additional stress for the person doing the wringing and also causing the risk of accident by slipping and falling while trying to control the mop and bucket during wringing.
I have solved many of the problems associated with mop buckets and mopping by my new invention. I have accomplished this primarily by: providing a foot operated wringer to eliminate the repetitive hand, arm, and body motions involved with customary hand operated wringers; providing a means to filter dirty mopping fluids; providing braking means for bucket wheels; providing drain and dumping assistive methods and means; and providing other features of the invention as recited below.
It is an object of this invention to provide ergonomically friendly mop wringing methods and apparatus;
Another object of this invention is to provide assistive drain devices for mop buckets;
Another object of this invention is to provide for saving of mopping fluids and reduction of fluid replenishing cycles by special filtering methods;
Another object is to provide safety braking means on mop bucket wheels.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with a review of the appended drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1184543 (1916-05-01), Lepak
patent: 1234721 (1917-07-01), Boggess
patent: 1486284 (1924-03-01), Eiffe
patent: 3630369 (1971-12-01), Nichols
patent: 3699606 (1972-10-01), Ribas
patent: 4161799 (1979-07-01), Sorrells
patent: 4344201 (1982-08-01), Trisolini
patent: 4798307 (1989-01-01), Evrard
patent: 6000094 (1999-12-01), Young
Graham Gary K.
Schulze Herbert C.
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